Contents

Biography

Early life

Bartholomew Barebone was born sometime in the 18th century.[1] Although no one in his family was magical, he was descended from one of the Scourers who married No-Majs and assimilated into non-magic society in order to escape punishment for their crimes, and, as such, had an intense belief in the existence of magic and the inherent evilness of witches and wizards.[1][2]

Meeting Dorcus Twelvetrees

"One day, at a local picnic, Dorcus Twelvetrees became greatly enamoured of a handsome No-Maj called Bartholomew Barebone. […] Totally oblivious to the danger, Dorcus took Bartholomew’s polite interest in her 'little tricks' at face value. Led on by her beau's artless questions, she confided […] all the ways in which these bodies sought to protect and conceal the wizarding community."

Exposing wizarding world

"Having gathered as much information as he could from Dorcus, Bartholomew stole the wand she had obligingly demonstrated for him, showed it to as many pressmen as he could find, then gathered together armed friends and set out to persecute and, ideally, kill all the witches and wizards in the vicinity."

After getting as much information out of Dorcus as possible, Bartholomew stole her wand she had obligingly demonstrated for him.[1] He showed Dorcus's wand to as many newspaper reporters as he could, and some of them took him seriously enough to publish pictures of it, describing how it "had a kick like a mule" when waved.[1] He printed and disseminated leaflets listing the wizarding addresses Dorcus had revealed to him and wrote letters to important No-Majs.[1] Some of the recipients of his letters were motivated to investigate whether his claims of "evil occult parties" were true.[1]

Imprisoned

"Giddy with his mission to expose witchcraft in America, Bartholomew Barebone overstepped himself by shooting at what he believed were a group of MACUSA wizards, but which turned out to be No-Majs who had the bad fortune to leave a suspected building while he was watching it. Fortunately nobody was killed, and Bartholomew was arrested and imprisoned for the crime."

—Bartholomew was arrested and imprisoned after shooting a group of No-Majs who he believed to be MACUSA[src]

Not satisfied with simply making his fellow No-Majs aware of the existence of the wizarding world, Bartholomew banded together with some gun-wielding friends, and set out to persecute and kill all witches and wizards who lived in the area.[1] He planted himself outside of a building and opened fire when a group of people he assumed to be MACUSA employees exited.[1] However, the people were in fact No-Majs unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.[1] None of them were killed.[1] Bartholomew was arrested by No-Maj authorities and imprisoned for his crime.[1]

Aftermath

"Dorcus’s indiscretions led to the introduction of Rappaport’s Law. Rappaport’s Law enforced strict segregation between the No-Maj and wizarding communities. Wizards were no longer allowed to befriend or marry No-Majs. Penalties for fraternising with No-Majs were harsh. Communication with No-Majs was limited to that necessary to perform daily activities."

The Barebone affair prompted the passage of Rappaport's Law in 1790.[1] This law banned witches and wizards from marrying or befriending No-Majs, and led to the complete segregation of the No-Maj and wizarding communities in America.[1]